Maliki Announces Plans to Purchase 36 F-16 Fighters From US

Erbil, (AKnews) – Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that Iraq would buy 36 F-16 fighters from the US – double the number originally agreed – in order to reinforce its air defense, Reuters reports.

Maliki said that an Iraqi Air Force delegation will travel to Washington to sign a contract for the fighter planes.

“We have to provide Iraq with airplanes to safeguard its sovereignty,” he said.

A prior contract with the US to buy 18 F-16s was cancelled earlier this year when the $900 million necessary to seal the deal was pumped into a food subsidy program to quell a wave of public protests across the country.

The Iraqi Air Force under Saddam Hussein boasted one of the largest air fleets in the region – composed of primarily Soviet-designed air craft – but was disbanded along with the Iraqi military in 2003 following the toppling of the former dictator.